ASHCROFT TALKS OF MORE GIGS IN DECEMBER & FALL-OUT WITH MCCABE

He reveals plans for more gigs later this year and the truth behind his relationship with former Verve guitar player Nick McCabe...

Richard Ashcroft is planning UK gigs in December following his debut solo live performance at V2000 in August.

He’s also revealed that he plans to warm up for the V2000 shows with a couple of low-key gigs in the South of France.

Speaking on Radio One yesterday afternoon (April 10), Ashcroft told DJ Jo Whiley he was now in the process of assembling his live band and promised: “It’s going to be a big show.

“We’re going down the South of France to warm up, do a couple of gigs there but I’m certainly not doing any (UK) gigs before V2000. I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw me on a stage in December.”

During the interview – which you can hear through the Radio One website at [url=]www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 – Ashcroft talked of his new as-yet-untitled album, the birth of his son Sonny and his relationship with guitarist Nick McCabe following the break-up of The Verve.

He revealed he’d not seen or heard from McCabe since the guitarist left the band, mid-tour, in 1998 and said: “There’s no relationship at the moment so it’s neither good or bad. I’ve no idea what Nick’s doing.”

“I think with any relationship, if it wasn’t meant to happen, then you kind of let each other do their own thing for a while – that’s not to say there’s any malice on my part.”

“I don’t wish him anything more than good luck, have a good life. I don’t have any bad feeling any more.”

Since The Verve split, McCabe went on to live in Spain with his partner, bassist Simon Jones has gone on to play with ex-Stone Roses John Squire and drummer Pete Salisbury has stuck with Ashcroft. Guitarist Simon Tong is also thought to be still working on music.

For tickets to see Richard Ashcroft‘s V2000 performance at Staffordshire (August 19) and Chelmsford (20),

For tickets, go to the nme.com Ticketshop – click here

Or call the NME 24-Hour Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. Calls are charged at national standard rate.

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